Tapnell Cows Blowing Off Some Steam

One of Tapnell Farm’s collection of lifesize cows has been spotted in a rather unusual location – on the platform of the new Train Story exhibition at Isle of Wight Steam Railway!

The lifesize model calf has been loaned from The Cow Co as the finishing piece to a new exhibit, a restored “calf float” which was donated to the Steam Railway many years ago by Sealink, when they still operated the ferry and rail connections to the Isle of Wight. The small wheeled cart used to be used to transport calves and other livestock from the ferry at the end of Ryde Pier, and onto the trains. It is believed to be one of the only carts of its kind still in existence.

This calf is not the only one of Tapnell’s cows you will bump into on a trip round Train Story. There is currently a full-size blank cow positioned at the entrance to the exhibition, which forms part of a colouring competition currently running for visitors to the Steam Railway. Their visitors are invited to get creative and submit their own ideas for a design for an Isle of Wight Steam Railway cow, which will eventually become part of the Wight Herd at Tapnell Farm.